The Voice

Issue date: 5/7/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

	Baby 81 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club RCA Records

Best Tracks

• Berlin (CD track 2)
• Not What You Wanted (CD track 6)
• All You Do Is Talk (CD track 8)

Something about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club seems holy. It's not the way they pump dingy blues through distorted amps like the ones in small town churches, it's not how they mimic early rock bands like the Beatles (although to some that may be enough), it's certainly not their lyrics- a great deal of which focus on things distinctly un-holy; it's something strangely innate and intangible in their music. They've got the kind of attitude developed by two-pack-a-day convicts who found Jesus in prison; they may be God-fearing, but the allure of selfish pleasure is often too much to resist.

The California-based threesome, named after Marlon Brando's fictional posse in the 50's film The Wild One, makes music that is ostensibly devilish. Their fourth album since their debut six years ago, Baby 81 is an almost gospel-like compilation of tracks fit for both the sinners and the saved. The sound is consistently sincere, although it's difficult to tell which half of the moral divide the band is preaching for. The dark points are dark, and the light points are light, but the scales seem to be tipping in favor of the blackness.

The subterranean smack-high of "666 Conducer" smears an image of a smoky strip club crowded with seedy strangers. The dark pop-bounce of the sexually charged "Berlin" is all but custom-made for an iPod commercial and probably would be a viable option, were it not for the references to suicide and wanting to, quote, "uhhh" somebody.

As it often does in BRMC's work, a feeling of desolation floats in and out of Baby 81 as a reality check for the visceral tracks just mentioned. The sorrows are evident on the rusty garage rocker "Took Out a Loan," the more upbeat but remorseful "Not What You Wanted," and the desperately lonesome "American X," (which unfortunately carries on a few minutes too long). The album closes with the sweet "Am I Only," a tale of uncertainty that climbs from a timid acoustic croon into a soaring epic for just a moment before slipping away to the quiet ringing of bells.

The low point of the record comes with "Lien On Your Dreams." When contrived verses rhyme too well to be interesting, but it's a small error and can be easily overlooked in light of the excellence of the rest of the album.

Fortunately, there are plenty of tunes that complement this warm season. A winding, moon-lit drive in a drop-top Caddy is the perfect fit for the condescending but breathtakingly beautiful lullaby "All You Do Is Talk."

Between the debauchery and despondency, where does the sense of righteousness come from? Trying to find the divinity in this music is like the band's members trying to find it in themselves. It feels like it must be there, but it's so damn hard to get a hold on. This feeling is hard to explain if you haven't heard Baby 81, but one thing is clear: this summer's nights belong to the church of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

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